Last week I asked my pastor if he had a favorite cookie, because I was
trying to figure out what to make for an after-church social. He said
he did have a favorite that his Mom used to make when he was a kid, but
they are so much trouble to make his wife won't make them except once
every couple of years for his birthday or Christmas. He described the
cookies, chocolate with chopped maraschino cherries in them, with
marshmallow and chocolate icing on top. I didn't promise anything.

I found the recipe (an old Pillsbury Bake-off recipe, lot's of copies on
the Internet to compare to reconstruct the original), and made a batch
Saturday. They are kind of involved, but not as bad as, say, biscotti
or fruitcake cookies. Took them to church last night and the pastor was
pleasantly surprised. He ate one, and said that I nailed it :-)

The hard part is cutting up the cherries (sticky!) and cutting the
marshmallows in half. (I don't think substituting 3 or 4 miniature
marshmallows would work.) I found that the easiest way to cut the
marshmallows was with a very sharp knife on a cutting board, and to cut
straight down (a rocking motion if your using a chef knife or skinning
knife) instead of using a slicing motion.

They were easier to frost when the cookies had cooled some but were
still warm, and the frosting was still hot.

Chocolate Sundae Cookies
http://basicallybaked.wordpress.com/...undae-cookies/

These cookies are better the second day, so make them ahead of time.

1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 egg
1/4 c. maraschino cherry juice
2 T. milk
2 oz. melted unsweetened chocolate
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/4 c. chopped maraschino cherries
18 marshmallows cut in half

Whisk together the dry ingredients. Set aside.
Cream together the brown sugar and butter. Blend in the egg until
thorougly blended. Stir in half of the dry ingredients. Add the cherry
juice and milk. Stir in the remaining dry ingredients until completely
combined. Blend in the melted chocolate. Stir in the walnuts and the
maraschino cherries. Drop by rounded teaspons onto ungreased cookie
sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Place one marshmallow
half cut side down on each hot cookie. Cool on wire rack. Frost with
chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Frosting

Combine 1/4 c. butter, 1/4 c. milk, and 1 c. sugar in small saucepan.
Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 30 seconds. Stir in 1 c.
semisweet chocolate chips until melted.